Josephine Eleanor Fagan

Mrs. Fagan, Prominent Lusk Woman, Dies

With the death of Mrs. Josephine W. Fagan at 7:45 Monday morning, April 9, Lusk lost a citizen notable for the prominent part she played, not only in this community, but in Niobrara County, where she served eight years as welfare director. She also served the State of Wyoming honorably and well, being elected a member of the House of Representatives of the 22nd Legislature in 1933, on the Democratic ticket.

Energetic and capable in everything she did, Mrs. Fagan instilled her own personality into whatever she undertook. Her sense of humor, her gift of words and her good common sense judgement in all matters made her a most enjoyable companion and endeared her to a host of friends.

Death came gently to Mrs. Fagan, releasing her from several years of suffering. Having been in a coma for a few days, she passed away so easily that the members of her family hardly knew when her earthly career ended.

Born at Williamstown, New York, March 31, 1880, the daughter of Seth and Laura Warner, she was one of a family of four children and the first one to pass away.

In 1903 she entered the hospital of the Good Shepherd at Syracuse, New York, for nurses training, graduating in 1906. She then went to Tonopah, Nevada, where she opened the Miners' Union Hospital and it was here that she met Thomas M. Fagan and a romance developed which culminated in their marriage, June 23, 1915.

CAME TO WYOMING IN 1915
They moved to Casper, Wyo., for a few years and then to Lusk, where Mr. Fagan engaged in the practice of law, and was a prominent Democratic party leader, being his party's choice as a candidate for Congress in 1920.

Five children were born to this union, David and Margaret, who were twins; Thomas John, Jane and James Wells.

Mr. Fagan passed away in 1931 from a lung affliction contracted during his hard rock mining days in Nevada, and one son, David, died about five years ago, while a student at the Wyoming University.

Mrs. Fagan was a member of the Congregational Church of Lusk, a member of the Lusk Rebekah Lodge, was a past president of the Delphian Society and of the Lusk P.T.A.

The long and faithful care that she gave her husband before his death impaired her own health, and her family persuaded her to go to California about two years ago, in the hope that the change of climate would prove beneficial. However, her longing to be with her family brought her back to her home, where her daughters, Mrs. Jane Chester and Mrs. Margaret Honeycutt, gave her every care until the end.

Her son, Thomas, is with the Seventh Army in Germany and it is more than a month since the family has heard from him. A cablegram of his mother's passing was sent to him. Her two sons-in-law, Lt. Guy Honeycutt, and Sgt. Robert Chester, are also on the battle fronts. Lt. Honeycutt is in the Philippines and Sgt. Chester is in Italy.

The youngest son, James, has been a student at the Wyoming University. The other survivors are one brother, Lydon Warner, of Westdale, N.Y., and two sisters, Mrs. Edith W. Brown of Williamstown, N.Y., and Mrs. Lucia Garner, Bakersfield, Calif.

Besides her two daughters and two sons, Mrs. Fagan is survived by a small grandson, Jimmy Chester.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Peet Chapel this (Thursday afternoon at 3:30, with Rev. Lawrence Juell and Rev. Clyde Hampton officiating.

The Lusk Herald
April 18, 1945
LAST RITES HELD FOR JOSEPHINE FAGAN

At 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, April 12, funeral services were conducted at the Peet chapel for Mrs. Josephine W. Fagan. The last rites were conducted by Rev. Lawrence Juell of the Congregational Church, assisted by Rev. Clyde Hampton.

Mrs. H.J. Templeton sang "Crossing the Bar," and a quartet composed of mrs. Templeton, Mrs. I.J. Reiste, Miss Laverne Johns and Miss Irene Ellison sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Peace, Peace, Sweet Peace." Mrs. J.P. Watson presided at the instrument.

The honorary casket bearers were: Edward M. Arnold, O.P. Harnagel, NIck T. Kaan, Dr. W. E. Reckling, Fred Root and J.D. Lorenzen. The active bearers were J.P. Costlow, Joe Kuhn, Wm. D. Miller, George Gibson, T.A. Godfrey and C.W. Spacht.

Burial was made in the Lusk cemetery beside her husband.

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